The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has warned that Nigeria may experience a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak if the public continued with noncompliance with instituted health protocols.
He gave the warning on Saturday during the virtual annual general meeting and scientific conference of the Guild of Medical Directors in Lagos.
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The theme of the meeting is ‘Post COVID-19 Era: Economics and Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria.’
He said the second wave being experienced in Europe and America should give the country concerns because of the high volume of human traffic from Nigeria to those continents, reopening of schools and serious disruptions in response caused by the #EndSars protest.
“I fear that with the laxity displayed by our own population, our own second wave is eminent,” the minister said.
He enjoined the private sector and states to help propagate compliance to non- pharmaceutical measures such as hand washing, use of face masks and social distancing among others.
The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) had confirmed 170 new COVID-19 cases on Friday with three coronavirus related deaths recorded in 10 states and Federal Capital Territory.
Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, advised doctors to ensure professionalism and courage, and maintain good reputation and ethics in carrying out their services.
He also enjoined them to participate actively in politics.
President of the Guild of Medical Directors, Prof Olufemi Emmanuel Babalola, said this year had been the most challenging for doctors in private practice because of the COVID- 19 pandemic, lockdown and running of practices in a harsh economic environment.
He said the guild lost members to the pandemic.
“We all find ourselves in the frontline of healthcare, daily exposing ourselves to the possibility of infection while attending to our patients.
“And in spite of these dangers, we have soldiered on with very little support from outside our own efforts.
“Indeed, we have lost some members.”
Prof Babalola said the guild had also undertaken advocacy visits to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to advocate for the release of backlog of payment of services done by members, and the adoption of a more reasonable tariff for care providers.
Speaking on the topic, “Economic & Healthcare Delivery in the post-COVID Era”, Fola Adeola, the keynote speaker at the event, called for improved infectious disease treatment capabilities, training and incentives for health workers.
He said it was important to address the elitist healthcare delivery system in place and democratize healthcare in a way that allowed meaningful advancement towards universal healthcare for all.
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